{"id":69044,"date":"2025-02-05T05:29:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T05:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/finance\/7-ways-to-get-free-financial-advice\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T05:29:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T05:29:51","slug":"7-ways-to-get-free-financial-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=69044","title":{"rendered":"7 ways to get free financial advice"},"content":{"rendered":"


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It\u2019s easy to find free financial information on the internet. Whether it\u2019s reading blogs, scrolling social media, or listening to podcasts, free financial information is abundant.<\/p>\n

Free financial advice, however, is much harder to find.<\/p>\n

Financial advice is financial information tailored to your situation. While it\u2019s useful to understand tax brackets<\/a> and tax credits<\/a>, it\u2019s only actionable if you take into account your tax situation.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are still places you can get free financial advice. None of these will replace what a financial advisor can do for you, but they can help answer some of your questions.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1 If you want to speak with a FINRA\/SEC Registered advisor for an initial consultation with no obligation to hire them, take a look at Wiser Advisor<\/a>. They can match you with someone who meets your specific needs.<\/p>\n

\nTable of Contents<\/summary>\n
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  1. 1. Your Bank or Credit Union<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. 2. Your Local Library<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. 3. HUD-Counselors<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. 4. Financial Planning Association<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. 5. Foundation for Financial Planning<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. 6. IRS Tax Preparation Programs<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. 7. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n

    1. Your Bank or Credit Union<\/h2>\n

    Your local bank or credit union (I\u2019d try credit union first) can work with you to discuss the options available to you. <\/p>\n

    You\u2019ve likely experience some of this before if you carry a large balance. The teller may suggest putting it in a certificate of deposit. If you\u2019re working with a banker, they suggest opening a brokerage account.<\/p>\n

    If you have questions related to banking, this can be a good resource. If you have other questions, like when to take Social Security, they are unlikely to be as helpful as it\u2019s not their expertise.<\/p>\n

    Also, they have an interest in getting you to use more of their products. So they\u2019re more likely to steer you in certain directions.<\/p>\n

    2. Your Local Library<\/h2>\n

    Your local library may offer classes or host events in which you can get financial advice. This won\u2019t be available all the time, so I\u2019d ask a library or check your library\u2019s website for a schedule of events.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019re more likely to see these events in April, which is Financial Literacy Month. My local library in Howard County has a whole series of workshops and events (here is the 2024 calendar<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    For younger kids, the American Library Association has a Thinking Money for Kids<\/a> series co-created by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. This is more financial information but good for help your kids better understand their money.<\/p>\n

    3. HUD-Counselors<\/h2>\n

    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will offer free housing advice for free (or for a low cost), so if you need that type of advice then it\u2019s a good option. It\u2019s not just for home buying advice, it\u2019s also rental housing, foreclosure assistance, credit and more. <\/p>\n

    If it\u2019s housing related, you could find help with a counselor approved by HUD. To find them, you can search this database of HUD-approved counseling agencies<\/a>. (though I wish the search tool would list the website of the agency)<\/p>\n

    4. Financial Planning Association<\/h2>\n

    The Financial Planning Association (FPA)<\/a> offers pro bono financial planning services for \u201clow-income individuals and families, military personnel\/veterans, domestic violence survivors; people affected by natural disasters, serious medical crises, bankruptcy, etc.\u201d The FPA is the trade association for Certified Financial Planner professionals.<\/p>\n

    There are 77 chapters across the country (there is not one in every state, unfortunately) and you can find them using this tool<\/a>. If you think you qualify, reach out to the chapter near you for help. <\/p>\n

    5. Foundation for Financial Planning<\/h2>\n

    The Foundation for Financial Planning is another trade group for financial planning that puts people in need with volunteer financial planners. You can learn more from their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    6. IRS Tax Preparation Programs<\/h2>\n

    If you just need tax assistance, the IRS offers two free tax preparation programs<\/a>:<\/p>\n